Ever since leaving Taixuan Mountain and taking root in Liucheng, more than two years had already passed.
The Xia Estate had always adhered to the principle of keeping a low profile in its development. While its reputation in Liucheng was not particularly prominent, over the past two years and more, the overall prosperity of the estate had been steadily rising.
Aside from shortly after their arrival in Liucheng when Xia Changsheng had exerted some effort and emptied twenty years of savings to purchase this residence, he had essentially acted as a hands-off boss. All the major and minor affairs within the estate were managed almost entirely by the two women, Liu Qingyue and Zhang Yuwei.
Liu Qingyue had an extraordinary background and even possessed a storage bag containing a considerable amount of private wealth.
Xia Changsheng had learned of this after the two of them confirmed their relationship, but as for her specific origins, since Liu Qingyue did not volunteer the information, he naturally would not proactively ask.
As for Zhang Yuwei, she relied on her paternal family. The Zhang clan could well be considered a wealthy family in Liucheng, and as the deeply cherished Second Miss Zhang, she naturally possessed both ability and wealth.
Even the newly welcomed ice-and-fire sister duo possessed astonishing financial resources.
With such capable wives and concubines, Xia Changsheng naturally did not need to worry about food, clothing, or expenses.
Therefore, he only needed to be responsible for lying flat.
After a long time, however, he began to feel a bit restless.
This trip to the Li Clan to attend the meeting and discussion could simply be treated as going out to join in the lively bustle.
Xia Changsheng pondered for a moment and quickly made his decision. Although he had always wanted to keep a low profile and develop steadily, it was still very necessary to occasionally display some strength.
Especially since he was currently in urgent need of elemental points.
And elemental points came from female cultivators with spiritual roots...
Throughout Liucheng, female cultivators with spiritual roots basically all belonged to those major families.
Showing his face might not be a bad thing.
Host: Xia Changsheng
Rank: First-Order Elemental Apostle
Elements: 78/100
Laws: Law of Wind I, Law of Water I, Law of Wood I, Law of Fire I
Wife: Liu Qingyue - Talent: Grade 8 Wind Spiritual Root (124/500)
Concubine: Zhang Yuwei - Talent: Grade 9 Water Spiritual Root (42/100)
Qingmei - Talent: Grade 9 Fire Spiritual Root (12/100)
Qingzhu - Talent: Grade 9 Wood Spiritual Root (12/100)
The system panel flashed and disappeared.
Compared to a year ago, his elemental points had increased by a full 39 points, which was not a slow growth rate, and he had even learned several spells. However, having two Foundation Establishment cultivators by his side meant that whenever they sparred in the martial arts arena, he always felt as if he could not fully exert his strength, often having to reclaim his ground at night to defend a man's dignity.
Still, through Qingmei and Qingzhu, he had gained a clear positioning of his own strength.
His proficient application of various elemental spells was roughly equivalent to Qi Condensation Perfection.
When she first learned of his strength, even Liu Qingyue had been startled. One had to know that a year ago, Xia Changsheng had been on par with her, yet merely a year later, he was actually approaching Qi Condensation Perfection...
Presently, Liu Qingyue had only reached the 6th layer of Qi Condensation.
Strictly speaking, for someone with only a Grade 8 spiritual root, this speed could not be considered slow, but she understood that this was basically all thanks to her husband.
Aside from Zhang Yuwei, who had been delayed by pregnancy and childbirth and remained at early Xiantian, even Qingmei and Qingzhu, who had entered the household for only half a year, had benefited immensely.
Both women had their potentials forcibly elevated by secret arts; otherwise, relying solely on their Grade 9 spiritual root aptitude, unless aided by supreme-grade pills, it would be virtually impossible for them to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
Consequently, this had resulted in unstable foundations.
Early Foundation Establishment.
It was basically fixed for life, unable to progress any further.
To their delightful surprise, however, on a rare occasion when Xia Changsheng cast a newly acquired wood-type spell—Healing Technique—he discovered that it had a significant effect on the two women, playing a role in nourishing their meridians and leaving them overjoyed.
As long as their foundations were repaired, the two women would be able to advance to the next level through dual cultivation with their husband.
The two women saw Xia Changsheng's miraculous abilities clearly in their eyes, but being smart, they tactfully buried this doubt deep in their hearts.
...
The next day.
At around noon.
Xia Changsheng walked out of the estate and, following the endless stream of people, headed alone toward the west of the city.
Qingmei and Qingzhu had wanted to come along, but he politely declined them; tall trees catch the wind, and it was better to keep a low profile.
Currently, the only Foundation Establishment cultivator publicly displayed by the Xia Estate was Qingmei, leaving an ace up their sleeve just in case.
The Li Estate.
Located in the west of Liucheng, it bordered the inner city closely.
All five Golden Core Real Persons of Liucheng lived in the inner city.
The closer one got to the inner city, the more it naturally became a symbol of status.
Strolling along leisurely, Xia Changsheng's mind was still lingering on last night's rare sleep with all four phoenixes.
Fortunately, as he learned the Healing Technique, his physical constitution had grown increasingly formidable and his recovery ability faster, allowing him to endure it.
Soon, the tall and imposing mansion of the Li Estate was already close at hand.
Compared to the Xia Estate, it was much more grandiose.
However, it was still early, and Xia Changsheng did not plan to pay a direct visit. Instead, he turned left into a riverside high-rise building on the street to the left.
This high-rise, with its carved balustrades and jade steps, was luxurious and magnificent—it was none other than the Prosperity Tower.
Throughout Liucheng, it was a household name.
Originally a property of the Zhang clan, it now belonged to the Xia Estate.
The Chief Steward Zhang, who was busy calculating accounts inside, immediately recognized the incoming person as his son-in-law upon seeing him enter and hurried forward to greet him.
Ever since marrying Zhang Yuwei, Xia Changsheng and his wives and concubines would occasionally come to the Prosperity Tower to sit for a while, either tasting tea and expressing their feelings or indulging in elegance.
The tower was filled with distinguished guests, extremely lively, and many private rooms had been booked in advance.
Xia Changsheng walked straight to the top floor.
This place offered the best view, allowing him to take in the scenery both near and far.
It was the most luxurious private room in the Prosperity Tower, specially reserved for Xia Changsheng and his group.
He casually sat down, sipping the fragrant tea while his gaze focused on the Li Estate not far away across the street.
At this moment, the gates of the Li Estate were wide open.
Four guards stood at the entrance, all at the Xiantian realm. As time passed, an elderly man with the appearance of a steward soon emerged from inside.
Xia Changsheng could not see through this person's cultivation level; he was most likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A mere steward was a Foundation Establishment cultivator—one could easily imagine the profound heritage of the Li Estate.
After another moment, guests attending the gathering finally began to arrive. Most of their cultivation levels were at the Qi Condensation stage, with only a few being Foundation Establishment cultivators attending in person.
Xia Changsheng counted roughly twenty-five families arriving. As far as he knew, these were basically all the families in Liucheng backed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, which showed that no one dared to refuse to give face to the Li Estate.
Naturally, Xia Changsheng at this stage was no exception.
Seeing that no one else was coming, Xia Changsheng went downstairs and walked toward the main gate of the Li Estate.
"Might you be the master of the Xia Estate?"
At the entrance, the Li Estate steward, standing with his hands behind his back, saw a handsome young man approaching. A flash of doubt crossed his eyes before giving way to a hint of realization. Guessing the newcomer's identity, he did not treat him discourteously.
"May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?"
Xia Changsheng smiled and returned the courtesy, full of poise.
"This old man is Li Zhong, humbly serving as the steward of the Li Estate. Please enter, Estate Master Xia; the others have already arrived."
"Apologies, matters at the estate delayed me for a moment."
"No matter, no matter."
Li Zhong then personally led Xia Changsheng into the estate. The two walked one after the other in silence.
They soon arrived at a grand hall.
Inside were twenty or thirty people gathered in small groups of three or five. Some were discussing cultivation insights, some were exchanging romantic poetry and prose, while others sat with their eyes closed in meditation.